Flour-sifter



1.,. H. DEAN.

FLOUR SIFTER.

APPLICATION FIL'D SEPT. l0, 19215 Patented Dec. 427, 1921.

UNITED STATES JAMES H. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLOUR-SIFTER.

Application :tiled September 10, 1921.

To @ZZ 'w 7mm 'it may concern Be it known that l, JAMin-s H. DEAN, a citizen ot the United States, and a. resident ot Chicago, county ot Cook, and State ot illinois, have invented certain new and usetul Improvements in FlounSitters; and l do hereby declare that the following is a tull, clear, and exact description thereot, reterence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot reterence marked thereon, which torm a part ot this specication.

This invention relates to improvements in {iour sitters and consists ot the matters hereinatter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One ot the objects ot the present invention is to simplify the construction and to iniprove the operation ot the sitter illustrated and described in my prior U. Letters tatent No. 1,369,700 issued on March 1, 1921.

@ther objects ot the invention as well as the many advantages thereof will more tully appear as I proceed with my speciiieation.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section ot a sitter embodying my invention; y

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 ot Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizont-al section through the sitter on the line 3 3 ot Fig. 2;

Fig. e is ay detail vertical section on the line 4 1 ot Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation ot a .supporting bar embodied in my improved sitter and which will be more specifically reterred to later;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation ot an actuator plate embodied in my improved sitter and which will be more yspeciically reterrcd to later.

Reterring now in detail to that embodin ment ot thev invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 10 indicates the sitter casing as a whole. lt includes a downwardly tapering top part 11 and. a hopper-shaped bottom part 12 which are seamed together7 there being an inwardly extending annular shoulder 13 at the junction ot said parts. Both casing parts are circular in cross section. The Ybottom part 12 has a discharge spout 14e and the top part 11 has an out-- wardly extending stiltening bead 15 near its bottom end, and oppositely arranged, outtaken Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2'?, 1921.

Serial No. 499,791.

wardly extending ears 16 by which the sitter easing as a whole may be detachably secured to the hopper bottom ot a flour-bin (not shown). lfVithin the upper portion ot the casing 10 is arranged a sieve or sitter basket 17, within which the bottom end ot the hopper ot the iour-bin extends, when the sitter is secured to the Hour-bin. The sitter basket herein illustrated is substantially saucer-shaped. lt is made ot Wire clot-h and has a rolled sheet metal top rim 18.

19 indicates a diametric member which is fixed at its ends to the rim ot the basket. Said member includes a cross bar or intermediate part 20 which supports and bows upwardly the central portion'ot the basket, and .end loops or teet 21 which depend below said intermediate part and terminate in upwardly extending parts or legs 22. The top ends ot the legs are secured to diametrically opposite points ot the rim 18 ot the basket.

The diametric member 19 is adapted to be removably engaged with a horizontally dis posed oscillating tiat bar 2% which is pivoted at .its middle by a. rivet 25 to the top end ot a block or standard 26. This block is mounted on a transverse bar 27 supported in the casing 10 in a manner soon to appear. Preterably the rivet 25 which is arranged in the axial plane ot the casing', has a driving iit in the block and a washer 25a is interposed between the top surtace ot the bar 2e and the head ot said rivet,"to prevent binding ot said bar. The ends 28 et the bar 2t are bent downwardly and have slots 29 therein so as to provide stirrups which receive the end loops or teet 21 ot the diametric member 24. Then the basket is in position upon the bar, the horizontal parts ot the teet 21 rest in the bottom ends ot the slots 29 with the shorter upright parts et said teet engaging in those parts ot the slots in the ends ot the bar 211 proper. Thus as it is apparent, when the bar 24- is oscillated, a like move- Vment is imparted to the basket through the member 19 and an easy and quick removal and replacement ot the basket is had with reference to said bar. It is herein pointed out that the basket is supported and has movement imparted to it trom opposite sides as distinguished trom those wherein the basket is supported at its center only. This construction is much stronger and it permits of a two point engagement with the ac- Y tuating mechanism so that the basket will always maintain its true shape.

The mechanism for oscillating the basket is located in the casing below the basket and is mounted on the block or standard 26 before mentioned. Said mechanism includes a pair of vertically swinging, parallel spaced arms or links 30 which have top and bottom horizontally disposed, opposite extensions 31-32 The extensions 31 are pivotally engaged in spaced transverse holes 33 in the top end of the block 26 while the extensions 32 are likewise engaged in similar holes 34 in the bottom end of an actuator plate 35. This plate extends parallel with the block 26 and is held in a position spaced therefrom by a boss 36 on the bottom end ,of said block, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The top end of the actuator plate is recessed at its middle. as at 37 to provide spaced fingers 38 to engage opposite edges of the oscillatable bar 24. It is apparent that as the links are swung first in one Vdirection and then in the other, an oscillating movement is imparted to the actuator plate and consequently to the bar 24 and basket 17, the engagement of the lingers 38 with the bar 24 being so arranged that the bar actually limits the movement of the plate for a purpose to appear later.

To impart the swinging or oscillating movement to the links 3() I provide a multipointed cam or star wheel 40 spaced outwardly a short distance from the actuator plate Vand arranged in the plane of the extensions32 of the links. As shown herein, said cam or star wheel is made integral with a shaft section 41 which has bearing in a hole42 arranged centrally of the boss and in a plane midway between and below the plane of the holes 33. In thatend of the shaft section which projects beyond the opposite face of the block 26, is provided a recess 43 (see Ilig. 2) and a cotter pin 44 extends through this end of the shaft section to prevent endwise movement of said shaft section and star wheel. To assistin the proper spacing of the star wheel and shaft section, I interpose a washer 45 between thecotter and adjacent face of the block and on said shaft section near the star wheel I provide a shoulder 46 which engages with the face of the boss 36. In. the bottom edge of the actuator plate 35 I' provide a downwardly opening recess 47 which straddles the shoulder 46. Preferably this recess is of such width that it is covered on one side at all times by the face of the boss, and the side walls of the recess are iiared or'tapered outwardly so that suchV flour as enters the recess can' not Vpack thereinV but will readily discharge itself therefrom,

rlhe. multipointed cam or star wheel has an odd number of points or teeth 48, preferably five in number, and each point issubstantially heart-shaped so that diametrioally opposite each point is a valley 49. It is apparent that as the cam is rotated the edge of one point or tooth on one side of the axis will engage with one of the link extensions 32 and swing it to one side, the other link entering into the diametrically opposite valley. After the highest partv of the point has passed' its associated extension, the approaching edge of the second point 4S spaced therefrom will engage the other extension 32 and swing the associated link in the opposite direction, the first-named extension moving into the approaching valley. It is herein pointed out that the edges of each tooth are so generated that the swinging movement of the active link extension 32'is slowed down as it approaches the end of its limit of movement and that the other extension while entering the valley does not engage the body of the ca'infbut is free therefrom, as shown in F ig. 1. By reason of this construction and by reason of the limiting action of the ngers 38 ofthe actuator plate 35 with reference to the oscillating bar 24 as before described (the cam being made in synchrony therewith) the momemtum of the basket is readily overcome, the cam does not become unduly worn or indented and the reversal is easily made without excessive jarring and vibration. y

The shaft extension 41 is driven or rotated by a shaft 50 which bears in a suitable plate 5l on the inside of the casing wall part 11. One end of said shaft is split as at 52 to provide a fork which may be entered into the recess 43 of the shaft section 41 and to so straddle and engage the cotter 44 as to rotate the shaft section when the shaft 50 isrotated. rfhat part of the shaft 50 without the casing is formed to provide a crank 53 for rotating the same. To hold the shaft 50 in position with reference to the shaft section 41, I surround that part of the shaft within'the casing with a coiled expansion spring 54 which is interposed between. the bearing plate 51 and a fixed washer 55 on said shaft near its forked end. The shaft 50 may be moved lendwise outwardly against the spring 54 to remove it from engagement with the shaft section 41. It is `apparent that for every revolution of the shaft 50 live oscillations are imparted to the sifter basket.

rIhe cross bar 27 vwhich carries the block or standard 26 is removably mounted in the casing in the following'manner: The ends of the cross bar are tapered or inclined to correspond to the taper of the top part 11 of the casing. Said bar rests with the ends of its bottom edge upon the annular shoulder 13 and on opposite sides of the casing part V10 below the bead 15 are formed vertically arranged inwardly-extending ribs 56 arranged m pairs. The ribs of each pair are spaced distance apart substantially equal to Vthe thickness ot the bar 27 so that said ribs engage the side portions ot the ends ot said bar to hold it in an edgewise manner. Just above the head 15 in a plane between the ribs 56 ot each pair, the metal ot the casing part ll is upset inwardly to provide lugs 57, which when the bar is in place, act to hold it trom an upward movement. In applying or inserting the bar in place, one end ot said bar is arranged between one pair ot ribs 56, with its topmost corner engaged beneath the associated lug 57 rIhe other end ot the bar is now guided into position between its associated pair ot ribs and is torced to pass the associated lug 57 by slightly springing the casing in a direction parallel with the bar. To remove the bar, the operations are in the inverse order.

My improved construction has many advantages, all ot the operating mechanism may be assembled upon the block 26 betore the bar 27 is inserted in place. The entire sitter may be readily taken apart and this without the necessity ot removing such parts as are liable to become lost. Flour cannot pack in or about the parts so as to slow down the sitting operations. The parts are simple and easy to make and assemble and thus an increase in production is attained `with a corresponding` reduction in the cost ot manutacture. l

lVhile in describing my invention I have reterred to certain details ot mechanical construction, torm and arrangement ot parts, Ido not wish to be limited thereto except as is pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l'. A flour sitter comprising a sitter casing, a sieve basket removable trom said casing, a diametric member fixed at its ends to the top ot the basket and having an intermediate part and end loops depending below said intermediate part, a bar mounted in the casing and capable ot oscillation in a horizontal plane about a point midway ot its length, said bar having stirrups adapted to be en.- gaged by said depending loop, and means tor oscillating said bar.

2. A flour sitter comprising, a sitter casing, a sieve basket in said casing having a dished wire cloth body and a metal rim, a diametric member fixed at its ends to the rim, said member including an intermediate part and parts depending below said intermediate part, and an oscillatable bar in said casing adapted tor engagement by the end parts ot said diametric member.

3. A tiour sitter comprising, a sitter casing, a sieve basket in said casing having a dished wire cloth body and a metal. rim, a diametric member fixed at its ends to the rim, and means in said casing and adapted tor engagement with said diametric member at points spaced trom its middle tor oscillating said diametric member.

4l. A flour sitter comprising, a sitter casing, a sieve basket in the casing having a rim, a diametric member tor the sieve basket xed at its ends to the rim, a horizontally disposed oseillatable bar pivoted between its ends in the casing, said diametrie member including parts adapted tor detachable engagement with the oscillatable bar, and means in the casing tor oscillating said bar.

A fionr sitter comprising, a sitter casing, a sieve basket in the casing having a rim, a diametric member tor the sieve basket xed at its ends to the rim, a horizont-ally disposed oscillatable bar pivoted between its ends in the casing, said bar having slotted end parts adapted to be detachably engaged by parts ot said diametric member, and means tor oscillating said bar.

6i A flour sitter comprising, a sitter casing, a sieve basket in the casing having a rim, a diametric member tor the sieve basket. fixed at its ends to the rim, a horizontally disposed oscillatable bar pivoted between its ends in the easing, said bar having angularly disposed end parts with which said diametric member has a detachable driving` connection7 and means tor oscillating said bar.

7. A `flour sitter comprising, a sitter casing, a sieve basket in the casing having a rim, a diametric member tor the sieve basket, fixed at its ends to the rim, a horizontally disposed oscillatable bar pivoted between its ends in the casing, said bar having downwardly extending slotted end parts within which parts ot the diametric member engage tor a driving connection therewith, and means tor oscillating said bar.

8. A. fiour sitter comprising, a sitter casing, a vsieve basket in the casing having a rim, a diametric member tor the sieve basket, fixed at its ends to the rim, a horizontally disposd oscillatable bar pivoted between its ends in the easing, said bar being termed at its ends to provide stirrups and said diametricmember being termed to provide spaced teet which are adapted to engage in the stirrups, and means tor oscillating the bar. v

9. A flour sitter comprising a sitter casing, a bar pivoted between its ends in said casing so as to oscillate in a horizontal plane, a sieve basket adapted tor detachable engagement with said bar, a horizontal shatt rotatably mounted in the casing below said basket, an actuator plate mounted in the casing and capable ot an oscillating movement in a plane at right angles to the shatt, said actuator plate being operatively c0nnected with said bar, and means associated with the shatt tor oscillating said actuator plate. y

10. A flour sitter comprising a sitter casing, a bar pivoted between its ends in said casing so as to oscillate in a horizontal plane,

al sieve basket adapted for detachable engagement with said bar, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in the casing below said basket, an actuator plate mounted in the casing and capable of an oscillating movement in a yplane at right angles to the shaft, said actuator plate having laterallj,7 spaced parts at its top end adapted to engage the edges of said bar so as to impart an oscillating movement thereto, and means associated with the shaft for oscillating said actuator plate.

11. A flour sifter comprising a sifter casing, a bar pivoted between its ends in said casing so as to oscillate in a horizontal plane, a sieve basket adapted Vfor detachable engagement With said bar, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in the casing below said basket, an actuator plate mounted in the casing and capable of an oscillating movement in a plane at right angles to the shaft, said actuator plate having operative connection With said bar so as to impart its oscillating movement thereto, said connection being so arranged as to limit the amplitude of oscillation of said plate, and means associated with the shaft for oscillating said actuator plate.

12. A. flour sifter comprising asifter casing, a sieve basket mounted therein to oscillate about a central axis, a horizontal shaft section rotatably mounted in the casing below the sieve basket, an actuator plate mounted in the casing to oscillate in a plane at a right angle to the shaft section, a member for transmitting the oscillation of the actuator plate into a horizontal oscillation of the basket, means on one end ofthe shaft section for oscillating the actuatorplate, and an operatingr shaft detachably connected to the other end of the shaft section.

13. A flour sifter comprising a sifter casing, a sieve basket mounted therein to oscillate about a vertical axis, a support in the casing below the basket, a-horizontal shaft section journaled in the support, an actuator plate mounted on the supportto oscillat-e in a plane at a right angle to the shaft section,

a member for transmitting the oscillation of the actuator plate into a horizontal oscillation of the basket, means on one end of the shaft section for oscillating the actuator plate, a cotter'passing through the other end 14. A flour sifter comprising a sifter casing, a sieve basket mounted therein to oscillate about a vertical axis, a support in the casing belou the basket,a horizontal shaft section journaled in the support, an actuator plate mounted on the support to oscillate in a plane at a right angle to the shaft section, a member for transmitting the oscillation of the actuator plate intoV a horizontal oscillation of the basket, means on one end of the shaft section for oscillating the actuator plate, an operating shaft detachably connected to the other end of the shaft section, and a. coiled spring on the shaft for holding it in engagement With the shaft section.

15. A flour sifter comprising a casing, a sieve basket mounted in the casing for oscillation in a horizontal plane, mechanism. in 'the casing for imparting an oscillating movement to the sieve basket, and a support uponV which said mechanism is mounted, said support being removably secured in said casing. Y

16. A flour sifter comprising a casing, a sieve basket mounted in the casing for oscillation in a horizontal plane, mechanism in the casing for imparting an oscillating movement to the sieve basket, and a support upon which said mechanism is mounted, said casing heilig constructed at diametrically opposite sides, to engage and removably7 hold said support in its proper position.

17. A flour sifter comprising a casing, a sieve basket mounted in the casing for oscillation in a vertical plane, mechanism in the casing for imparting an-oscillating movement to the basket, a support in the casing below the basket and including a cross-bar and a block fixed thereon, said block carrying the mechanism for oscillating the basket, and inea-ns on opposite sides of the casing for .receivingand removably holding the ends of said cross-bar.

18. A flour sifter comprising a sifter casing, a horizontally oscillatable basket in the casing, an operating mechanism in the casing for oscillating the basket, and means for detachably connecting the basket to said mechanism at points spa-ced from the axis of the basket, said means including parts for holding the basket upright and against lateral tipping.

.ln testimony that l; claim the foregoing my invention, I atlix my signature in the prese-nce of a witness, this 7th day ofv Sept., A. D. 1921.

JAMES H. DEAN.

fitness T. H. ALFREDS. 

